Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Fiat and Chrysler, discussed the outlook for the auto industry and the US-Europe trade and investment relationship at the Institute on December 7, 2009. Mr. Marchionne is the Italian co-chairman of the Council for the United States and Italy, a group of top business leaders in the two countries.

Left to right: Sergio Marchionne and C. Fred Bergsten

Photo: Jeremey Tripp, PIIE

Mr. Marchionne joined the Board of Directors of Fiat in 2003 and became its CEO in 2004. Fiat acquired a controlling stake in Chrysler earlier this year and Mr. Marchionne then became CEO of both groups. The Council for the United States and Italy was created in 1983 by Gianni Agnelli and David Rockefeller, who served as honorary chairmen until 2003. The Council, which meets annually in both Italy and the United States, brings together about 100 top executives from the two countries for discussion of economic relationships between Italy, the United States, and the rest of Europe.